Crane scale



W. G. WEHR CRANE S CALE Original Filed May l2, 1932 v 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 5, 1938. w. G. wEHR 2,113,337

CRANE SCALE Original Filed May l2, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 5, 193s. w. G. WEHR 2,113,337 n CRANE SCALE Original Filed May 12, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,4r/'anvers Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES CRANE SCALE William G. Wehr, Wickliie, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Crane & Engineering Company, Wickliffe, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 12, 1932, Serial No. 610,887

Renewed September 3, 1937 11 Claims.

This invention relates to cranes preferably of the traveling type which are adapted to hoist and lower heavy loads of various types of material and an object of the present invention is to provide, as an integral part of the crane structure, an improved material weighing mechanism which is accurate, visible and readily readable from a distance and which will not easily get out of order.

Another object of the invention resides in provding a simplied structure rendering the same less expensive to manufacture, but at the same time maintaining the accuracy which is neces sary to make a device of this character practicable.

Another object of the invention is to so support the loading platform and the weighing mechanism that the ordinary stresses set up in the trolley as it runs along the tracks, due to irregularities in the latter, will not be transmitted to the weighing mechanism to thereby effect its accuracy.

With the objects above indicated and other ob i jects hereinafter explained in view, the invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a crane trolley embodying the present invention, parts thereof being broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the crane trolley;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the manner in which one end of the load supporting platform is suspended from the weighing mecha nism;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical nsectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and showing the ilexible connection between the weighing mechanism and the trolley frame;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and showing one of the knife edge supports;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6 5 of Fig. l and showing the manner in which the other end of the load supporting platform is supported from the weighing mecha" nism;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 'l--l of Fig. 8 and showing in detail the construction of the ilexible connection;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken. on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a detailed view in elevation of the counterbalancing weight and indicating graduations of the weighing mechanism.

In the drawings I have illustrated the invention in conjunction with the trolley of a crane with which it is desirably associated for the purpose intended, but the ordinary parts of the crane structure, other than a portion of the bridge upon v which the trolley is traversable, are not shown as it is believed that the construction and operation are well known to those versed in the art.

A trolley Ill comprises a pair of spaced longitudinally extending channel-shaped end frame members I I maintained in assembled relation by a plurality of angle cross members I2 at one end, which are welded or otherwise secured to the ends of the end frame members I I and at the opposite ends by transversely extending plates I3 which have their ends welded or otherwise secured to the opposite ends of the frame members II, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. These plates I3 are spaced apart and reinforced by a plurality of diaphragms I4 which are welded or otherwise secured to the inner adjacent faces of the plates I3. rhe end frames II are cut away upon their under sides and at the opposite ends to provide seats for the usual bearing blocks I5, which are bolted at I6 or otherwise secured to the end frames Ii. The bearing blocks I5 at one end of the trolley Il! rotatably support a shaft or axle Il to the opposite ends of which are secured a pair of flanged wheels I8. The bearing blocks I5 at the opposite ends of the end frames II rotatably support a shaft or axle I9 to which are Secured, at its opposite ends, a pair of flanged wheels 2B, the anged wheels I8 and 20 being in longitudinal alignment and engageable with a pair of spaced rails 2l mounted upon the transverse side members 22 of the bridge of a crane, not otherwise shown in detail.

One of the shafts or axles of the trolley I0, and preferably the axle Il, is driven so as` to impart movement to the trolley along the rails 2| and, while this may be accomplished by any suitable means, I preferably provide a. motor 23 which is mounted upon a plate 24 extending between the end frames II and welded or otherwise secured to the top of the angle member I2. This plate 24 terminates short at its opposite ends with respect to the end frames I I, so as to permit clearance for the flanged Wheels I8. A portion of this plate is cut away at 25 to provide clearance for a gear reduction 26 interposed between the armature of the motor 23 and the axle il, so as to positively drive the latter to thereby move the trolley along the rails 2|. Any suitable gear reduction may be employed, depending upon the speed at which it is desired to move the trolley along the rails. Angle members` 21 extend bew neath the plate 24 and are welded or otherwise secured thereto, as well as to the angle member I2 and are suitably positioned to reinforce the plate at the location where the motor 2l is mounted. A similar angle 28 extends beneath the portion of the plate beyond the opening 25 and is secured in a like manner and reinforces the plate at this location for the purpose of supporting a bearing 29 within which is journaled the stub shaft of one of the gears of the gear reduction 25. Current for the motor may be supplied from any suitable source, such as the usual collectors mounted upon the bridge of the crane, and which are not herein illustrated as the means of supplying this current is well known in this art.

Preferably adjacent the drive end of the trolley Ill there are a pair of transversely extending plates 39 which are disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of the; frame I0 and at the-ir opposite ends are supported upon the end frames I I, the ends of the plates being cut away at 3I to fit the upper flange and inner surface of the web of the end frames II, as shown in Fig. 3. The contacting surfaces of the plates 39 and the end frames I I are welded or otherwise secured to each other, the plates extending a substantial distance above the upper flange of the end frames II and the corners thereof being severed angularly as at 32. The outer plate 39 is continuous and has the adjacent edge of the plate 24 welded thereto, but the inner plate 30 has upper openings 33 and lower openings 33 provided therein for clearance purposes, as will be later more specifically described. To maintain these plates 39 in spaced relation and provide a rigid structure and reinforcing means for the end frames I I, top plates 34 are formed to fit the contour of the plates above the end frames II, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and are welded or otherwise secured along the contacting surfaces of the plates 30, the inner adjacent ends of the top plates 34, however, being spaced apart.

A longitudinally extending inverted channelshaped member 35 is disposed centrally of the end frames II and comprises a pair of spaced side plates 35 and a top plate 31 which are welded or otherwise secured to provide a rigid structure. The lower ends of the side plates 36 extend downwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, and abut with the inner adjacent ends of the plates 34 to which they are welded or otherwise secured and to rigidly reinforce this channel-shaped member 35, adjacent the plates 39, web plates 38 are provided directly above the plates 30 and are welded or otherwise secured to the side plates 39 and to the top plates 34. At the opposite end of the trolley I9 the channel-shaped member 35 terminates slightly beyond the tie plates I3 of the trolley l0 and, as this channel-shaped member 35 extends substantially parallel with the end frames II, suitable means are provided for connecting this end of the channel-shaped member 35 with the tie plates I3. As there is 'considerable stress set up in the trolley I9 during its travel back and forth upon the rails 2|, due to irregularities in the latter, and as it is undesirable to transmit this stress to the inverted channel-shaped member 35, for reasons which will be later described, a flexible connection therebetween is preferably employed, the details of which are more clearly shown in Fig. 4. A pair of vertically extending plates 39 are spaced apart and have their upper ends in` engagement with the inner surfaces of the side .plates 3S of the inverted channel-shaped member 35 and are welded or otherwise secured thereto, while the lower ends extend downwardly to a point adjacent the upper edges of the tie plates I 3. Transversely extending bearing plates 4I) are welded or otherwise secured to the lower ends of the plates 39 and which bearing plates 49 are spaced apart longitudinally, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower ends of the bearing plates 4D extend below the ends of the plates 39 and are slightly rounded to provide clearance between the lower ends of the bearing plates. and the upper surfaces of the tie plates I3. A pair of plates 4I, more clearly shown in Fig. 8, are welded between the inner pair of diaphragms I4 and have their upper ends extending above the upper surfaces of the tie plates I3 and rounded as at 42, these upper ends being spaced apart longitudinally and held in spaced relation by a sleeve 43. Aligned openings are provided in. the plates 40 and 4I and receive therein a bolt 44 which is maintained in place by a nut 45. Roller bearings 46 are provided between the inner surface of the sleeve 43 and the bolt 44 to provide an anti-friction connection which prevents the stressesset up in the trolley I9 from being transmitted tc the inverted channel-shaped member 35. To prevent rotation of the sleeve 43 a web plate 4l may be provided which is welded to the inner surface of the plates 4I and to the under siuface of the sleeve 43.

A load supporting platform 43 is adapted to be mounted upon the trolley I0 in any suitable manner which will permit vertical movement thereof independently of the trolley Ill and is disposed between the transverse plates 30 and the transverse tie plates I3.

The platform 48 preferably consists of longitudinally extending channel-shaped side members 49 maintained in parallel spaced relation by a transversely extending cross member 50 at one end and a pair of channel shaped members 5I at the opposite end, the latter being spaced apart longitudinally with their webs adjacent to each other and the said cross members 59 and 5I being welded to the side members 49. of the platform 48 is positioned in substantially the same horizontal plane as the frame of the trolley I0 with the side members 49 positioned adjacent the end frames I I, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. A cover plate 52 extends transversely between the side members 49 and has its opposite edges welded thereto, while one side of the plate 52 terminates above the cross member 59 and is welded thereto the opposite edge terminates adjacent the midportion of the side members 49. This plate 52 is disposed slightly below the upper surfaces of the side members 49 and is reinforced by transversely extending members 53, which have their opposite ends welded to the side members 49 and their upper surfaces with the under surface of the plate 52. Longitudinally extending diaphragms 54 are also provided to reinforce the structure and are welded respectively with the transverse cross members 5I) and 53 and the under surface of the plate 52, while other reinforcing diaphragms 55 extend between. the transverse members 53 and are welded thereto as well as to the underside of the plate 52.

A motor 56 is mounted upon the plate 52 on one side of the inverted channel-shaped member 35 and is adapted to be connected to any suitable source of current through the usual collectors which are not herein shown, as this manner of supplying current to devices of this type is well known in the art. A shaft 5l extends transversely of the platform 48 and has its opposite ends rotatably mounted in bearings 58 which are secured to the side members 49. At one end this shaft 51 has secured thereto an external gear 59 of any desirable pitch diameter, which meshes with a pinion 69 mounted upon the armature of the motor. At the opposite end of the shaft 51 a pinion 6I is secured thereto and meshes with an external gear 62 of any suitable pitch diameter, which is secured upon one end of a drum 63,

'I'he frame likewise extending transversely of the platform 48 and disposed between the inner cross member 5| and the inner edge of the plate 52.

The trunnions of the drum 63 are rotatably supported in bearings 64 secured upon the side members 49. The drum 63 is of the grooved type and has a cable 65 mounted thereon, the ends of the cables 65 extending downwardly and passing around a pair of sheaves 66 rotatably supported by a pin 61, the ends of which are mounted within a block 68. The ends of the cables 65 extend upwardly from the block and pass around a pair of sheaves 69 which are rotatably mounted upon a pin 10, the ends of which are secured within the diaphragms 55. The cables then pass downwardly around sheaves 1| rotatably mounted on the pin 61 of the block 68 and then upwardly to a point adjacent the sheaves 69 and the ends are then secured in any suitable manner upon the under side of the frame 48. The block 68 has a hook 12 swivelly connected at 13 and which is adapted to support the desired load of material.

It is desirable to suspend the platform 48 upon the weighing mechanism from three points arranged triangularly to thereby prevent uneven movement of the platform during the weighing operation. In the preferred arrangement one end of the platform 48, and preferably the end adjacent the plates 30, have extensions 14 welded adjacent the lower portion of the cross member 50 and positioned adjacent the side members 49 by means of which the platform is suspended, while the opposite end is suspended from a bolt 15 which passes through aligned openings in the webs of the channel-shaped cross members 5|, more clearly shown in Fig. 6, and which is located midway between the extensions 14. This platform is suspended from any suitable weight indicating mechanism, but in the drawings I have illustrated a preferred arrangement thereof. The extensions 14 have laterally extending integral lugs 16 having vertically extending openings therein through which extend a pair of hanger rods 11, the heads of the rods being adapted to engage the under side of the lugs 16. The upper ends of the hanger rods extend through openings in cross bars 18 and are secured therein by means of nuts `19, although the connection therebetween permits longitudinal adjustment of the hanger rods. The cross bars 18 have transverse openings which receive pins 80, the outer ends of which are supported in aligned openings provided in the enlarged heads 8| of hanger rods 82.

The upper ends of the hanger rods 82 extend though openings in cross bars 83 and, While being adjustable therethrough, are maintained in position by nuts 84. The cross bars 83 extend through openings 85 provided in arms 86 which extend transversely of the trolley and have their inner adjacent ends spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 3. The cross bars 83 are supported upon knife edges 81 and the outer ends of the arms 86 are likewise supported upon knife edges 88, which include cross bars 89 having vertically extending openings through which hanger rods 90 extend, the heads of the hanger rods engaging the under surfaces of the cross bars 89, while the upper ends of the hanger rods 90 extend through aligned openings in the plate 34 and bearing plates 9| and are maintained in position by means of nuts 92 rendering the connection adjustable. The inner ends of the arms 86 are supported upon knife edges 93 provided upon the under sides thereof and in the upper sides of an equalizer 94. The equalizer 94 has a transverse opening 95 through which extends a cross bar 96 and which has vertically extending openings through which extend hanger rods 91, the` heads thereof engaging the under side of the cross bar, while the upper ends extend through openings in laterally extending lugs 98 formed integral with a cross bar 99.

Nuts |00 maintain the hanger rods 91 in proper position, but at the same time permit longitudinal adjustment. The cross bar 99 also has vertically extending openings adjacent its outer ends through which hanger rods |0| extend, the heads thereof engaging the under surface of the cross bar 99, while the upper ends extend through openings in a cross member |02 and are maintain-ed in position by nuts |03 providing adjustability therefor. The cross member |02 extends through a transverse opening |03 provided in an arm |04 and is mounted for free movement upon a knife edge |05. One end of the arm |04 is supported upon a knife edge |06 formed between the arm |04 and a cross bar |01, the latter being provided with vertically extending openings at its opposite ends to receive hanger rods |08, the heads thereof engaging the under side of the cross bar |06, while the upper ends extend through aligned openings in the plate 31 and a bearing plate |09. Nuts ||0 maintain the hanger rods in position and at the same time provide adjustability thereof. The forward end of the arm |04 is likewise supported upon a knife edge Il! formed between the under side of the arm |94 and a cross bar ||2. The cross` bar H2 has vertically extending openings adjacent its outer ends to receive therein hanger rods H3, the heads thereof engaging the under side of the cross bar l l2, while the upper ends extend through aligned openings in one side of an equalizer ||4. Nuts I| are provided to maintain the hanger rods in proper position and permit adjustability. The opposite sides of the equalizer ||4 also have vertically extending openings throughwhich extend hanger bars ||6 maintained in proper position by nuts ||1. The lower ends of the hanger rods extend through openings in the opposite ends of a cross car I8 and the heads on the rods engage the under side thereof.

An arm ||9 has its inner end supported upon a knife edge |20 provided between the end of the arm and the cross member ||8, While the opposite end of the arm is supported upon a knife edge |2I provided between the under side of the arm and a cross bar |22. 'I'he cross bar |22 has openings adjacent its ends through which extends hanger rods |23, the heads thereon being cngageable with the under side of the cross bar |22, while the upper ends extend through aligned openings in the plate 31. and the bearing plate |24. Nuts |25 are provided to maintain the hanger rods in proper position and to provide for adjustment.

The opposite side of the platform 48 is supported by means of the pin 15, as already explained, from a pair of hanger rods |26, the lower ends of which extend through openings provided in laterally extending lugs |21 formed upon a collar |21', the latter having an opening through which the pin extends, better shown in Fig. 6. The upper ends of the hanger rods |26 extend through openings in a cross bar |28 and nuts |29 are provided to maintain the hanger rods in proper position and to permit adjustability. The cross bar |28 extends through an opening |30 provided in an arm |3| and is supported upon a knife edge |32 formed between the arm and the cross bar. One end of the arm |3| is supported upon a knife edge |33 formed between the under side of the arm and a cross bar |34 which has openings provided in its opposite ends to receive hanger rods |35, the heads engaging the under side of the cross bar, while the opposite ends extend through aligned openings in the plate 31 and a bearing plate |38. Nuts |31 are provided to maintain the hanger rods in proper position and to permit adjustability. The opposite end of the arm |3| is also mounted upon a knife edge |38 provided between the under side of the arm and a cross bar |39 which has openings adjacent its opposite ends to receive hanger rods |40, the heads engaging the under side of the cross bar |353, while the upper ends extend through openings rovided in the ends of a cross bar IM. Nuts |42 are provided to maintain the hanger rods in proper position and to permit for adjustment. lThe cross bar |4| extends through an opening |43 provided in the arm ||9 and is mounted upon a knife edge |28 provided between the under side of the cross bar and the lower portion of the opening.

The equalizer I4 is mounted upon a knife edge |44 carried at the end of an arm |45 which is pivotally supported adjacent thereto at |48 by a flexible connection secured to the top plate 31 and a bearing plate |41. The opposite end of the arm |45 extends forwardly from approximately the midportion of the trolley to adjacent one end thereof and is connected with an arm |48 by means of a exible connection |49. One end of the arm |48 is pivotally connected to a cross member |58 having its ends secured to the plates 39, while the opposite end is connected to the weighing mechanism |5| by means of a hook |52. A weight |53 is slidably adjustable upon the arm |48 and is secured in adjusted position by means of a lock screw |53. .l

A rod |54, which has the hook |32 formed at its upper end, extends downwardly7 within the housing of the weighing mechanism |5| and is connected, as more clearly shown in Fig. 9, with a clamp which in turn has secured thereto one end of a tape |55, which extends around a circular disc |51 to which the opposite end is secured by means of a screw |58. The disc is preferably an integral part of a hub |59 which is rotatably mounted upon a pin |553, the ends of which are secured within a bracket |65 bolted or otherwise secured to one of the plates 44]. The hub |59 has a depending arm |62 upon which is slidably mounted a weight |83 which may be secured in adjusted position by a set screw |64. The hub |59 further has a laterally extending arm |65 upon which is secured a segment |66 having graduations |61 representing preferably pounds or tons, as the case may require. The graduations in this segment are reflected by means of a reflector |53 which is suitably positioned within the housing |5| and are transmitted through a magnifying glass |69 which enables an operator standing upon the ground at a remote distance to visibly and quickly ascertain the weight of the load suspended from the hook 12. The weight |53 and the segment |66 are moved in unison by actuation of the rod |54 which causes the tape |55 to rotate the hub |53 upon which the circular disc |51 is mounted.

It is of considerable importance, in producing an accurate weighing mechanism of this character, that the trolley frame be rigidly reinforced at one end, which applicant has accomplished by providing the transverse plates 38 and the cover plate 34 and by welding these members together and to the end frames It is further desirable, therefore, to mount the drive motor 23 for the control upon this reinforced end, because of the additional rigidity afforded, although it is not essential that the trolley be driven at this point.

It is, however, important that the movable platform 48 be suspended from three points arranged in triangular relation, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that an accurate weighing of the load will be accomplished irrespective of the location from which it is supported. It is furthermore important that the platform 48 be suspended from two points at one end adjacent the opposite corners and that these points of suspension be adjacent the reinforced end of the trolley frame or next to the plates 3U, as shown therein. This will result in preventing any twisting movement of the trolley frame, during its travel along the rails, being imparted to the movable platform 48 adjacent the supports and will, therefore, not cause any twisting movement at this end of the platform.

The forward end of the trolley does not need to be so rigidly reinforced, for the reason that deflections in the bridge which supports the rails occur, due to the application of various loads and starting and stopping of the trolley, as well as the bridge. As it is desirable that the wheels I8 and 2G should contact with these rails a certain amount of twisting occurs at the end of the trolley adjacent the wheels 2D. Again it is important that this twisting transmitted to the weighing mechanism or to the platform 48 upon which the load is supported and consequently the iiexible or pivotal connection through the bolt 44 is provided to prevent this from happening, as any twisting movement will be compensated for through this flexible connection and will not be imparted to the overhead member 35. The opposite end of the platform 48, therefore, is pivotally supported from a point adjacent its central portion and, being suspended from the weighing mechanism, which is mounted upon the overhead member 35, twisting movement of the trolley frame is prevented from being transmitted to the platform 48.

In the operation of the device the load to be weighed is suspended from the hook 12 which in turn is suspended from the hoisting mechanism mounted solely upon the vertically movable platform 48. This platform 48, being suspended from the lever arms or balancing mechanism in the present instance, multiplies the movement of the platform 48 and therethrough causes the weight |63 to be rotated about the pivot |60 in amount proportionate to the load which is supported by the hook 12. Movement of the weight |63 also causes the segment |56 to be moved which indicates the weight of the load and is readily readable by means of the magnifying glass |69. It should be understood that the weight of the load can be readily seen by an operator upon the ground below the trolley and in many instances this distance is in excess of 100 feet, so that the desirability of being able to determine the weight of the load by the operator will be readily recognized by those skilled in the art.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited thereto inasmuch as changes and modifications may be resorted to movement is not ;v

Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an overhead traveling crane, the combination of a movable trolley, a hoist frame, hoist mechanism carried by said hoist frame, three levers pivotally supported in said trolley, means for operatively connecting three spaced points of said hoist frame to said levers whereby said hoist frame is wholly supported thereby, means for yieldably resisting the movement of said levers about their pivots, and means for indicating the extent of said movement.

2. In an overhead traveling crane, the combination of a movable trolley, a hoist frame, hoist mechanism carried by said hoist frame, a member, means for pivotally supporting one end of said member in said trolley, means for rigidly supporting the other end of said member in said trolley, and means comprising weighing mechanism for supporting said hoist frame from said member.

3. In an overhead traveling crane, the combination of a movable trolley comprising a trolley frame, a member disposed above said trolley frame, one end of said member being rigidly connected to said trolley frame and the opposite end being pivotally connected to said trolley frame, a hoist frame, hoist mechanism carried by said hoist frame, means for movably suspending said hoist frame from said member, means for yieldably resisting the movement of said hoist frame, and means fo-r indicating the movement of said hoist frame.

4. A trolley comprising a frame, front and rear wheels mounted on said frame, a member extending longitudinally of and disposed above in substantial parallelism with respect to said'frame, one end of said member being rigidly secured to said frame and the other end being flexibly connected to said frame, a load supporting member disposed beneath said member, means for suspending said load supporting member from said member for movement independently of said frame, means for yieldably resisting the movement of said member, and means for indicating the movement of said load supporting member.

5. A trolley comprising a frame, front and rear Wheels mounted on said frame, a member extending longitudinally of and disposed above in substantial parallelism with respect to said frame, one end of said member being rigidly secured to said frame and the other end being flexibly connected to said frame, a load supporting member disposed beneath said member, means for suspending said load supporting member at three points in triangular arrangement for movement independently of said frame, means for yieldably resisting the movement of said member, and means for indicating the movement of said load supporting member.

6. A trolley comprising a frame having spaced side members and cross members connected thereto, a longitudinally extending member disposed above said frame, one end of said member being rigidly connected to said frame and the opposite end being flexibly connected to said frame, a platform disposed between the side members of said frame, means for movably suspending said platform from said member, means for yieldably resisting the movement of said platform, and means for indicating the movement of said platform.

7. A trolley comprising a frame having spaced side members and cross members connected thereto, a longitudinally extending member disposed above said frame, one end of said member being rigidly connected to said frame and the opposite end being flexibly connected to said frame, a platform disposed between the said members of said frame, hoist means mounted on said platform, means for movably suspending said platform from said member, means for yieldably resisting the movement of said platform, and means for indicating the movement of said platform.

8. A trolley comprising a frame having spaced side members and cross members connected thereto, a longitudinally extending member disposed above said frame, one end of said member being rigidly connected to said frame and the i opposite end being flexibly connected to said frame, a platform disposed between the side members of said frame, motor operated hoist means mounted on said platform, means for movably suspending said platform from said member, means for yieldably resisting the movement of said platform, and means for indicating the movement of said platform.

9. A trolley comprising a frame having spaced side members and cross members connected thereto, a longitudinally extending member disposed above said frame, one end of said member being rigidly connected to said frame and the opposite end being flexibly connected to said frame, a platform disposed between the side members of said frame, load supporting means including a motor operated drum mounted solely on said platform, means for movably suspending said platform from said member, means for yieldably resisting the movement of said platform., and means for indicating the movement of said platform.

10. A trolley comprising a frame having spaced side members and cross members connected thereto, a longitudinally extending member disposed above said frame, one end of said member being rigidly connected to said frame and the opposite end being flexibly connected to said frame, a platform disposed between the side members of said frame, means for movably suspending said platform from said member, said platform being suspended at one side from adjacent opposite corners thereof and at the other side from adjacent the center thereof, means for yieldably resisting the movement of said platform, and means for indicating the movement of said platform.

11. A crane comprising a bridge, a trolley traversable along said bridge, motor operated means on said trolley for impelling the latter along said bridge, a longitudinally extending member disposed above the trolley frame, said member being rigidly connected at one side to said trolley and at the opposite end flexibly connected thereto, a platform movably suspended from said member, means for yieldably resisting the movement of said platform, motor operated hoist means mounted on said platform and adapted to support a load, and means for indicating the movement of said platform and visibly readable from a distance.

WILLIAM G. WEHR. 

